Cognitive aspects of interface design and human-centered automation on the ship bridge: the example of ARPA/ECDIS integration

Manoeuvring a ship is inherently a complex control activity of applying controllable forces of the ship to the uncontrollable forces of the environment. The different tasks of manoeuvring are themselves embedded in the activity of navigation. Voyage planning, navigation and manoeuvring are the main activities of normal ship bridge operations, i.e. when no emergency planning is necessary. Putting 'people in control' means that the control activities of the crew on the bridge should be supported safely and effectively through their co-operation and through their interaction with devices, instruments and displays. Human-machine interaction however often suffers from different types of design-related interface problems. The author describes these types of problems in relation to navigation.